Edmund Bristow
1787 - 1876
Edmund Bristow was born on April 1st, 1787 at Eton and lived the whole of his life in Windsor. His father was a heraldic painter and Bristow mainly painted sporting and animal subjects, as well as landscapes which often included views of Windsor and Eton College characters of the day. His paintings were mostly small in scale, beautifully observed and with great attention to detail. He was a friend of Sir Edwin Landseer, RA (1802-1873) and it is said that he gave the young Landseer advice and help. In spite of being somewhat of a recluse with eccentric views, Bristow had some important patrons from the Court, including the Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Clarence, later William IV. A painting of the same size titled 'Preparing for Market' which was exhibited at the British Institution in 1826, no. 257, was probably a companion to 'Off to Market'.Exhibited : Royal Academy 1809-1829, British Institution, Suffolk Street
Museums : Hanover, Hull, Leicester, Nottingham
Literature : The Dictionary of British Equestrian Artists by Sally Mitchell. A Dictionary of British Sporting Painters by Sydney Pavière.